Delta Platinum Card vs. Delta Gold Card [Detailed Comparison]

Delta and American Express have had a long-standing relationship that’s proven fruitful for both companies.

The 2 have collaborated to provide an almost overwhelming number of co-branded credit cards for consumers to choose from, and selecting the right one for your wallet can be daunting.

Two of the most popular options are the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card. Each offers a set of perks that will appeal to a particular customer base, but which one is the right option for your wallet?

That’s where we come in.

Today, we will explore the ins and outs of these cards, including their perks and features, to help you determine the best fit for your everyday life.

Delta Platinum Card vs. Delta Gold Card — Overview

Before we examine the details of our featured cards, take a look at this overview of the highlights of the Delta Platinum card and the Delta Gold card:

Benefit	Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card	Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Welcome Offer	Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.	Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Earning	3x SkyMiles on Delta purchases 3x SkyMiles on purchases made directly with hotels 2x SkyMiles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. 2x SkyMiles at U.S. supermarkets	2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases 2x SkyMiles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. 2x SkyMiles at U.S. supermarkets
Redemption Options	Redeem miles for award travel on Delta or partner airlines Upgrade Delta flights Pay With Miles (fixed-value redemptions)
Delta Air Lines Benefits	Annual Domestic Companion Certificate Get closer to elite status with Status Boost and a Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) waiver First checked bag for free (terms apply) Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding	First checked bag for free (terms apply) Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
Statement Credits	Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit	$100 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 on your card during a calendar year (terms apply)
Travel Benefits and Protections	Discounted CLEAR membership Secondary car rental coverage Trip delay reimbursement	Discounted CLEAR membership Secondary rental car insurance
Shopping Benefits and Protections	Cell phone protection No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)	No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)
Annual Fees	$250 (rates and fees)	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 (rates and fees)
Authorized User Fees	None	None

The Value of a Welcome Offer

Earning a welcome offer on a given card is one of the fastest and easiest ways to earn many rewards. Typically, a card will offer a generous sum of bonus points after you meet a minimum spending requirement.

Keep in mind, however, that welcome offers change with frequency, so you’ll want to double-check the specific offer before you apply for any card.

See below for the current welcome offers on the Delta Platinum card and the Delta Gold card.

Delta SkyMiles

The Delta Platinum card and the Delta Gold card both earn Delta SkyMiles. In recent years, Delta has made the SkyMiles program consistently less valuable — it’s no longer a go-to currency for booking long-haul international flights in premium cabins.

You can use SkyMiles to book flights on partner airlines such as Air France, KLM, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic, and more, but it’s relatively difficult to find flights that will provide a decent value. You’ll likely have better luck finding value on domestic flights, which can be booked for as few as 5,000 SkyMiles each way.

Earning Potential

Let’s take a look at how you’ll earn Delta SkyMiles for the purchases you make on each card:

Earning Category	Delta Platinum Card	Delta Gold Card
Delta Purchases	3x SkyMiles	2x SkyMiles
Hotels Booked Directly	3x SkyMiles	N/A
Restaurants	2x SkyMiles	2x SkyMiles
U.S. Supermarkets	2x SkyMiles	2x SkyMiles
Other Purchases	1x SkyMiles	1x SkyMiles

You’ll earn more SkyMiles with the Delta Platinum card if you spend a lot with Delta Air Lines and book many hotels, though otherwise, the cards’ earning structures are identical when it comes to everyday purchases like dining and groceries.

If you’re merely a casual Delta flyer, you’ll probably be more than satisfied with the Delta Gold card’s earning structure. Still, if you’re devoted to the airline, you’ll probably derive more value from holding the Delta Platinum card.

Redemption Options

Once you earn Delta SkyMiles, basically, your only option for redeeming them is within Delta’s ecosystem, which includes award flights, Delta Vacations reservations, and gift cards.

If you have patience — and flexible travel plans — you may be able to redeem your SkyMiles for outsized value, especially on long-haul partner flights.

For example, there are plenty of days on which you can book Air France’s nonstop flight between St. Maarten (SXM) and Paris (CDG) one-way in business class for just 75,000 SkyMiles and between $64 and $84 in taxes and fees. Per our valuation of Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents apiece, this means using SkyMiles for this flight would be equivalent to just under $1,000 in cash value. Compare this with cash prices of at least $2,600 on the route, and that’s a considerable savings and a great use of miles.

And, as we mentioned above, it’s also possible to find great deals on domestic flights, considering they start from 5,000 miles each way. Delta’s award prices tend to be tied more or less to the cash price of a ticket. You’ll want to check the cash price and the cost in SkyMiles of a flight you’re looking at and do the math before you decide to purchase with cash or miles.

But, for many other redemptions, you’ll rarely achieve a higher value for your SkyMiles than 1.2 cents apiece — and this applies when you use SkyMiles for other purchases like Delta Vacations packages.

Delta Air Lines Benefits

Due to the way Delta SkyMiles have been devalued over the years, the primary motivation behind opening a Delta co-branded card is for the Delta-centric perks they provide. Other cards may provide more generous earning potential but lack the targeted benefits that a co-branded Delta card will provide its flyers.

Let’s review the Delta-centric benefits that both the Delta Platinum card and the Delta Gold card offer:

First Checked Bag for Free

The Delta Platinum card and the Delta Gold card allow you and up to 8 companions traveling on the same reservation to check your first bag for free.

Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding

The Delta Platinum card and the Delta Gold card entitle you and up to 8 companions traveling on the same reservation to board in the Main Cabin 1 zone.

Save on Inflight Purchases

If you’re on a Delta flight, you can receive 20% back on inflight purchases made with both the Delta Platinum card and the Delta Gold card. This is a great way to add incremental value to holding either card.

Statement Credits

The Delta Platinum card offers a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees. Your card will reimburse you up to $85 for TSA PreCheck or $100 for Global Entry.

The Delta Gold card offers a $100 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 on your card within the year.

Delta Platinum Card

There are additional benefits and perks you’ll find exclusively on the Delta Platinum card.

Delta Sky Club Access

Neither of our featured cards will grant you complimentary access to Delta’s Sky Club airport lounges network. However, if you hold the Delta Platinum card, you can purchase access at $50 per person for yourself and up to 2 guests, provided you’re traveling on the same flight.

Status Boost

One of the best perks of Delta’s higher-end co-branded American Express cards — the Delta Platinum card included — is that they provide a way to get closer to elite status by simply meeting certain spending thresholds with your card each year.

The Delta Platinum card allows you to earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $25,000 on the card within a year, up to twice per year. You could earn 20,000 MQMs after spending $50,000 in a calendar year.

Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) Waiver

To reach elite status with Delta, you need to achieve specific spending requirements by earning Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) and flying a certain amount of miles, depending on the status level.

The Delta Platinum card offers a perk called the “MQD waiver.” This allows you to bypass the MQD portion of elite-status requirements for the Silver, Gold, and Platinum Medallion status tiers by spending $25,000 per year on your card. To earn a waiver for top-tier Diamond Medallion status, you’ll need to spend $250,000 annually on your card.

If you can achieve the spending requirement to earn the MQD waiver with the Delta Platinum card, it will get you closer to elite status with the airline.

Annual Companion Certificate

The Delta Platinum card offers an annual companion certificate, which covers a round-trip domestic Main Cabin ticket every year after you renew your card. Remember that terms apply, only certain fare classes are available, and you must pay taxes and fees on the companion ticket.

Travel Benefits and Protections

The Delta Platinum card and Delta Gold card are great for Delta-centric perks. They also provide travel-related protections and benefits that can be very helpful should something go wrong during your journey.

Rental Car Insurance

Most American Express cards come with secondary car rental insurance — and our featured cards are no different.

The secondary insurance policy covers theft, damage, and loss of use. To access this benefit, decline the collision damage waiver or loss damage waiver (CDW/LDW) from the car rental agency and pay for your car rental reservation using your Delta Platinum card or Delta Gold card.

Each card offers up to $50,000 in coverage.

Baggage Insurance

The Delta Platinum card and Delta Gold card offer up to $1,250 per carry-on bag and up to $500 per covered person for checked bags.

Travel Assistance Services

The Delta Platinum card and Delta Gold card provide access to the Global Assist Hotline, which can provide referrals for many services if you’re more than 100 miles from home, including passport assistance, medical services, and legal services.

CLEAR Discount

The Delta Platinum card and the Delta Gold card offer cardmembers a discounted CLEAR membership. You’ll receive $40 off the annual cost, bringing it to $149. Note that CLEAR is not available at all airports nationwide, so how much you value this benefit will depend on where you live.

Delta Platinum Card

Trip Delay Reimbursement

The Delta Platinum card also offers trip delay protection. You can be reimbursed up to $300 per trip in eligible expenses on covered delays of 12 hours or more with a maximum of 2 claims annually.

Shopping Benefits and Protections

Let’s look at what each of our cards has to offer in terms of benefits and protections for everyday, non-travel purchases.

Purchase Protection

Both the Delta Platinum card and Delta Gold card offer purchase protection, which means you’re covered if something goes wrong with something shortly after you purchase it.

Both cards offer up to $1,000 in coverage per item, up to $50,000 in coverage total per year. Claims must be filed within 90 days of the original purchase, and items must be purchased with your card.

Extended Warranty

Both the Delta Platinum card and Delta Gold card offer 1 additional year of warranty coverage on products that have eligible warranties of 5 years or less. Note that you must purchase the item with your card to cover it.

Foreign Transaction Fees

Neither card charges extra fees for transactions made abroad, making either a great option to bring along with you on any international trip.

ShopRunner Membership

Both cards offer access to a complimentary ShopRunner membership. Once you enroll, you can receive free 2-day shipping, free returns, and special discounts at various retailers.

Amex Offers

All American Express-issued cards provide access to Amex Offers. Log in to your online card account and select from various retailers or service providers. Enroll in the desired offer(s) and use your card to make the associated purchases to earn elevated SkyMiles or cash-back.

Delta Platinum Card

Cell Phone Protection

The Delta Platinum card offers a cell phone protection policy that will be useful if your phone is broken or stolen. The card provides up to $800 in reimbursements per claim with a $50 deductible per claim and a maximum of 2 approved claims per 12-month period.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

The Delta Platinum card charges a $250 annual fee, while the Delta Gold card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 . There are no additional fees to add authorized users for our featured cards.

Final Thoughts

When it comes down to it, the Delta Platinum card takes the Delta Gold card’s offering and builds on it to provide more perks to cardmembers, in theory justifying its higher annual fee. The Delta Platinum card offers slightly better earnings in a couple of key categories when compared to the Delta Gold card, but overall the cards offer very similar earning structures.

If you fly with Delta very often, you may find elevated perks like an annual companion certificate and the ability to enter Delta Sky Clubs for an additional fee to be well worth it — not to mention the more robust suite of travel and shopping protections the card offers.

However, if you fly Delta just a few times a year (or even fewer), the Delta Gold card will likely more than suffice. If you check bags, for example, you can recoup your annual fee after just a couple of trips with checked luggage.

Which card is better for you, though, will depend entirely on what you spend money on and, more importantly, how you value the Delta-centric perks you’ll get from opening one card over the other.

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For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the global assist hotline benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the purchase protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, click here.